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This week, two terrific reporters join us from their beats: first up, Salena Zito., National Political Reporter for The Washington Examiner (and author of the forthcoming book The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics) as well as an expert on the denizens of Trump country. Then, Debra Saunders, the White House Correspondent of the Las Vegas Review-Journal gives us some insights into what its like to cover this President. Also, the Comey book, and happy trails to Paul Ryan.
Music from this week’s show: Karma Chameleon by Culture Club
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I’m glad you guys could understand Salena Zito, I sure couldn’t.
It was a bad connection. We’ll do a do-over soon.
Good guests, although you already know how hard it was to hear Ms. Z.
Brilliant illo, EJ!
Thanks for the mention! We’re not too boring around here. Sometimes we talk about music and life and things that happen to people that simply do not get talked about enough. My daughter says I’m internet famous. I say not until you mention my handle!
But seriously, thanks for mentioning it as a reason to join. That’s actually pretty flattering.
James – excellent rant about ethanol. Hopefully Larry Kudlow will be able to push back against the idea that increasing ethanol is even vaguely a good idea. The entire mandate should be scrapped, not expanded.
All – three cheers for the Scooter Libby discussion. When W only commuted the sentence rather than pardon him, it was disappointing but I’m sure W thought it was “practical” or some such. Libby should have been pardoned in the first month of the Trump administration.
I absolutely love Paul Ryan, and I am sad to see him leave Washington because even though his record is not perfect, I’m left with very, very, very, very, very, very few politicians I can stand, much less laud. I respect his decision to go be with his family, and I do believe him, even though he lied once about his marathon finish time. (There are many worse things to “misremember.”)
I hope that he knows that a lot of Americans sincerely appreciate his sacrifices over the years including becoming Speaker of the House.
Wait, wait. For $2.50 a month you get access to the member feed? Can you comment on the member feed, too?
It is amazing how the misdeeds of Democrats are just shrugged away by so much of the press. I just can’t get over how the whole meeting on the tarmac with Lynch and Clinton was considered no big deal and that Lynch is still giving interviews instead of being completely discredited. But I guess it goes along with the “business we chose” and it sure doesn’t help to give the media and the Democrats (but I repeat myself) such a target rich zone like Trump. They could have been lamenting the end of the Republic over Rubio’s big windows, fishing boat and speeding tickets.
The media are all statists partly because they believe in it, and partly because it’s easier to write about. They are all a bunch of apparatchiks. It’s too much cognitive dissonance for them to entertain anything else.
You can read the Member Feed but only comment on podcast posts.
My response to the second guest whining about how hard it is to be a White House correspondent:
Awwwwwwww. So precious.
As she rightly noted herself, I have no sympathy.
My thoughts too. The sworn enemies of the people, Democrats with bylines, are surprised when Trump responds to their disdain by something other than standard Republican cowering. No sympathy from me.
I’ll believe it when I see it. K street does get weekends off, I guess.
Indeed!
Adding to Chris’ comments about ethanol: As a project manager for a large ethanol-from-corn plant in Kentucky, and as a chemical engineer, I began to study the case for ethanol as a synthetic fuel and for emissions reduction. My personal studies matched the conclusions of many in our profession: ethanol, and particularly ethanol from corn, is a dumb idea economically, environmentally and politically. Let me limit this comment to just the economic facts: A bushel of corn, about 70 pounds in weight, yields about 2.5 gallons of ethanol. How much transport fuel does it take to plant, fertilize, harvest, transport and store that corn before its conversion to ethanol? Answer: about 2.5 gallons for each gallon of ethanol produced. On top of that, ethanol only contains about two-thirds the calorific value of gasoline, and even less that of diesel. Are you getting the picture? It is insanity to say that using ethanol is economically beneficial, unless of course you are a large corn farmer or Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).
Corn liquor is the only way it makes sense.
I totally endorse Peter’s idea of coming to Fargo to record a podcast at Lileks Oil. I don’t care if you do it on Christmas Day, I will be there.
If we do this, I can guarantee you it won’t be in the winter!
Good thinking. Everybody at Lileks Oil is probably pretty busy delivering heating fuel in the winter. It would be fun to hear James make fun of Rob for complaining about the cold, though.
The thing I noticed was a couple comments about the Administration’s “hostility” towards the press, but little to no mention of the press’s hostility towards the administration.